Would G.U.Y. Have Been A Better Lead Single?

[Illuminati Freak 2,432]

Just now, Isidro Guevara said:

This! I always imagined the era going something like this:

Applause

G.U.Y. ft. Zedd

Do What U Want ft. Frank Ocean

Gypsy

 

Perfection.

[djBuffoon 12,120]

“Applause” encapsulates the themes of ARTPOP more than “GUY”, but the latter has that old-school Gaga sound that I think would’ve warmed up casual listeners who lost interest during the Born This Way era. 

[joannester 1,270]

ARTPOP as lead single. everyone would be shook and gagged. 

[AyaKara 2,281]

DWUW with the original verse about her hip injury, it would have been the ultimate comeback song after everything from the BTW era surrounding her hip. If not, then Venus -- it's Gaga enough that people would like it, it's a crazy dance tune, and it's incredibly catchy.

[Noir 17,306]

All these years later and yall still lost as to why Applause was the lead... her biggest radio hit, over 235m streams on Spotify and one of her biggest YouTube videos. You’re delusional if you think anything else would’ve done better. Sexxx Dreams/DWUW (without R.Kelly) could’ve smashed but not in the same way Applesauce did! 

[Isidro Guevara 821]

17 minutes ago, lavenderblondee said:

love Applause, it's such a fun song, but the lyrics aren't relatable and ultimately...I feel like that's the problem with why some songs are bops but if you sing the lyrics and don't resonate with them...it's trouble

This is what I think too. I like Applause and it's enjoyable but it doesn't stick with me in a personable level/ or keeps me thinking, isn't that interesting like G.U.Y. The latter makes me feel confident and is a more awesome- sounding track!

[lavenderblondee 3,695]

1 minute ago, Isidro Guevara said:

This is what I think too. I like Applause and it's enjoyable but it doesn't stick with me in a personable level/ or keeps me thinking, isn't that interesting like G.U.Y. The latter makes me feel confident and is a more awesome- sounding track!

Exactly, I feel the same. Applause is so much fun but when you sing the lyrics you can't relate it back to you, so I feel that could of been the GPs issue. Like you said, GUY makes you feel confident and strong 

[Kevbev 411]

Nah. I think Do What U Want would have been a much better lead single, especially if it featured someone like The Weeknd, not R. Kelly. 

[Isidro Guevara 821]

15 minutes ago, AyaKara said:

Venus

I don't think that would've been a good idea. Applause is odd but Venus is weird WEIRD! It's not as instantly catchy or repetitive enough as Applause. The lyrics are also very silly and could be confusing. 

[27monster27 13,118]

The main problem with the first two singles is that Lady Gaga was only given about a week to plan and execute the videos. So imagine the G.U.Y. video that was planned over months being condensed into a one week planned and executed version. G.U.Y. would only be a good first single if it was able to get the video that it needed, which is the one that we got. Also, one thing that many people on here don't know is that the GP generally tends to positively react to G.U.Y. A showed a friend back in middle school and they liked it, and Shane Dawson reviewed it in 2014 and he said that he loved it; he thought that the video was on par with or even better than Bad Romance.

[Roxanne 591]

Aura (Ft.Beyonce) 

[Isidro Guevara 821]

4 minutes ago, Kevbev said:

think Do What U Want would have been a much better lead single

I don't think DWUW encapsulates AP as a whole like Applause or to a certain extent, G.U.Y. 

[Isidro Guevara 821]

5 minutes ago, 27monster27 said:

GP generally tends to positively react to G.U.Y.

This! People actually liked the track but it was released from a failed album promotion. Also Gaga kept disappearing and I guess that made people forget about her. People I've played the track  to say it sounds cool and that it is very fun and catchy!

[Kevbev 411]

10 minutes ago, Isidro Guevara said:

I don't think DWUW encapsulates AP as a whole like Applause or to a certain extent, G.U.Y. 

Fair point. I just think the general public would have eaten up Do What U Want if it had strong radio support from the start of its release and had been given a proper music video.

[whore 11,447]

1 hour ago, Maleficent said:

Spoiler

TBH DWUW should've been the lead, but in a perfect world where R Kelly was already in jail by 2013, and it was with Frank Ocean/Nas singing the R Kelly lines

 

It didn’t need to have a featuring anyway, the solo version is flawless  definitely one of her best songs